Minding My Father's Country

by Dora Siliya

Minding My Father’s Country follows Dr Dora Siliya’s intricate life managing public affairs in Zambia and juggling her personal and family responsibilities. Her political journey spanned two decades, and included four parliamentary election victories, two losses, and saw her serve under five presidents. She began her career in diplomatic service, after which she was appointed a government minister in six ministries.
In 2009, Dr Siliya was catapulted into the limelight (and much controversy) when she was brought before a tribunal concerning the ‘sale’ of the national telecoms. Later, in 2013, she gained further national attention when she was prevented from contesting her parliamentary seat. Dr Siliya’s public life involved house searches, police detention, and court appearances. She was also the target of many political attacks and much social media attention.
In Minding My Father’s Country, Dr Siliya highlights her beginnings through her family and education. Her wide public exposure is also woven through intimate stories about her encounters in various capacities both locally and internationally.
This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to have crystal insight into Zambian politics and how business interests have come to be at the centre. Dr Siliya also provides readers with a clear account of her career roles and her viewpoints, making it an easy read for those who may be contemplating public life.

466 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 16, 2024

Reviews

[Brighton Munwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read, Dr. Siliya paints very vivid pictures of her life story and in and out of politics from her early childhood years and what it was like growing up in newly Independent Zambia. Something that strikes about when she talks about her father especially during the years when he worked for a state owned company is how much those Soviet Union stories about the government owning or having a hand in every bit of business are so accurate because Zambia was also like that as she describes most of their neighbors as having worked for agencies that were connected to the company her own father worked for. Another thing is how far we are as a country from attaining that which makes ours a normal and functional society, here is a daughter of a civil servant with so many opportunities when it comes to school, work and other extra curricular activities. She is playing tennis and representing the country in international tournaments while still being in school as a child of two civil servants something that in modern day Zambia is a preserve for the affluent. It’s a critical eye opener for all that want to serve in government or are just looking in from the outside on the intricacies of state craft and politics. A wonderful piece to spur on the girl child to know that they can achieve all they desire to but also in a subtle way a message to parents on grooming children to believe in their own capabilities and by so doing setting them up to reach for the sky. A few things I noted here and there like when she talks about the Zambia national team’s victory in 2012 and alludes to the semi final match between Zambia and Ghana as having gone to a penalty shoot out but we can forgive the few missed facts here and there. Overall a great read, hard to put down between some chapters.

[Prince Kwesi Ezra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read. Highly personal and a glimpse into Zambian Politics.

Excellent read.